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Cannabis use and familial vulnerability to psychosis have been associated with social cognition deficits. This study examined the potential relationship between cannabis use and cognitive biases underlying social cognition and functioning in patients with first episode psychosis (FEP), their siblings, and controls.
Methods
We analyzed a sample of 543 participants with FEP, 203 siblings, and 1168 controls from the EU-GEI study using a correlational design. We used logistic regression analyses to examine the influence of clinical group, lifetime cannabis use frequency, and potency of cannabis use on cognitive biases, accounting for demographic and cognitive variables.
Results
FEP patients showed increased odds of facial recognition processing (FRP) deficits (OR = 1.642, CI 1.123–2.402) relative to controls but not of speech illusions (SI) or jumping to conclusions (JTC) bias, with no statistically significant differences relative to siblings. Daily and occasional lifetime cannabis use were associated with decreased odds of SI (OR = 0.605, CI 0.368–0.997 and OR = 0.646, CI 0.457–0.913 respectively) and JTC bias (OR = 0.625, CI 0.422–0.925 and OR = 0.602, CI 0.460–0.787 respectively) compared with lifetime abstinence, but not with FRP deficits, in the whole sample. Within the cannabis user group, low-potency cannabis use was associated with increased odds of SI (OR = 1.829, CI 1.297–2.578, FRP deficits (OR = 1.393, CI 1.031–1.882, and JTC (OR = 1.661, CI 1.271–2.171) relative to high-potency cannabis use, with comparable effects in the three clinical groups.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest increased odds of cognitive biases in FEP patients who have never used cannabis and in low-potency users. Future studies should elucidate this association and its potential implications.
tardive dysphoria is a relatively new term used to describe the phenomenon of clinical worsening of depression after long-term antidepressant use. Most of the theories proposed to explain this talk about antidepressants tachyphylaxis that implies the loss of efficacy with its prolonged use, or even a pro-depressant effect of antidepressants when used for long periods of time.
Objectives
to explore the concept of tardive dysphoria, potential causes and clinical implications, by making a literature review on the topic. Moreover we pretend to understand the challenges in its diagnosis and treatment.
Methods
bibliographical search in PubMed database, using the key-words “long-term antidepressant”, “tardive dysphoria” and “antidepressant tachyphylaxis”, limited to works published in the last twenty years.
Results
from our search resulted 53 articles, 26 were chosen for further analysis.
Conclusions
the concept of tardive dysphoria is controversial, namely doubt persists if it constitutes a clinical entity by itself caused by long-term antidepressant use or if it simply relates to cases of treatment-resistant depression. We conclude that it is necessary further investigation in this area given the significant implications on clinical practice specifically in the psychopharmacological treatment with antidepressants, which is very common in psychiatric and general practices, with antidepressants being used to treat many mental health conditions.
fibromyalgia is a modern disease, with growing investigation concerning its etiology and treatment. It has become a very prevalent diagnosis and total remission of symptoms is the exception which is dramatic considering the socio-occupational impact of this highly debilitating disease.
Objectives
to review the updates in the pathophysiology and treatment of fibromyalgia, especially when it is refractory to treatment. The authors also intend to better understand where fibromyalgia belongs, is it in psychiatry as a functional disorder or in rheumatology as an auto-immune disease?
Methods
bibliographical search in PubMed database, using the key-words “fibromyalgia” and “psychiatry”, limited to works published in the last 10 years.
Results
from our search resulted 158 articles, from reading of abstracts 30 were chosen for further reading.
Conclusions
concerning the etiology of this disease, on the one hand psychological factors cannot be neglected since there are several studies finding a positive correlation between stressors like history of physical abuse and fibromyalgia in adulthood, on the other hand investigation and meta-analysis have found that the immune-inflammatory response system might be altered with dysregulation of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines and cell-mediated immunity. Regarding treatment, symptom relief is often unsatisfactory with classical treatment and so adjunct treatment such as electrical neuromodulation and aerobic exercise might, respectively, be effective in reducing pain and depressive symptoms, thereby improving quality of life, and in improving fatigue and in a lesser degree sleep.
The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia Autism Severity Scale (PAUSS) scale can be derived from the Positive and Negative Schizophrenia Syndrome Scale, enabling an assessment of psychotic and autistic dimensions with a single tool.
Objectives
The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of autistic traits and the diagnostic, developmental, clinical, and functional correlates of this phenotype in a sample of early-onset psychosis (onset before age 18 years; EOP).
Methods
Prospective observational 2 year- follow-up study in a sample of young people with a first-episode of EOP. Demographic, perinatal, developmental, cognitive, clinical, and functional data were collected. PAUSS total scores and socio-communication and repetitive behaviors subscores were calculated. We used the proposed cut-off points for adult populations to define prevalence of autistic traits (PAUSS≥30). Subgroups of patients with and without autistic traits were identified based on the total PAUSS terciles. We used the Cronbach’s alpha test to assess the PAUSS internal consistency. Linear mixed models were performed to compare changes in PAUSS during follow-up between diagnostic subgroups [i.e., non-affective psychosis (including schizophrenia and schizophreniform disorder), affective psychosis (including bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder and major depressive disorder with psychotic features), and other psychosis (including brief psychotic disorder and psychosis not otherwise specified)]. Developmental, clinical, and functional variables were compared between subgroups with and without autistic traits with logistic regression analysis.
Results
248 patients with PIT were included (age 15.69 ± 1.86 years, 38.65% female). The prevalence of autistic traits in EOP was 7.04%, with significantly higher prevalence in the group of patients with non-affective psychosis (15.20%) than in other diagnostic groups. PAUSS scores significantly decreased over time, with no significant differences in the trajectories of the total PAUSS and its subscores among the three diagnostic subgroups during the 2-year follow-up. The PAUSS showed good internal consistency at all visits (Cronbach’s alpha > 0,88). Patients with autistic traits presented longer duration of untreated psychosis, longer duration of the first inpatient admission, poorer social adjustment in childhood, poorer functionality, greater clinical severity, and poorer response to treatment during follow-up than patients without autistic traits.
Conclusions
The PAUSS is an easy-to-apply tool that can be useful to differentiate psychosis subgroups with worse prognosis.
Disclosure of Interest
J. Suárez Campayo: None Declared, L. Pina-Camacho: None Declared, J. Merchán-Naranjo: None Declared, C. Ordas: None Declared, V. Cavone: None Declared, R. Panadero: None Declared, G. Sugranyes: None Declared, I. Baeza: None Declared, J. Castro-Fornieles: None Declared, E. de la Serna: None Declared, C. Arango Consultant of: Acadia, Angelini, Gedeon Richter, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck, Minerva, Otsuka, Roche, Sage, Servier, Shire, Schering Plough, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma, Sunovion and Takeda, C. Diaz Caneja Grant / Research support from: Exeltis and Angelini
Tobacco is a highly prevalent substance of abuse in patients with psychosis. Previous studies have reported an association between tobacco use and schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between tobacco use and first-episode psychosis (FEP), age at onset of psychosis, and specific diagnosis of psychosis.
Methods
The sample consisted of 1105 FEP patients and 1355 controls from the European Network of National Schizophrenia Networks Studying Gene–Environment Interactions (EU-GEI) study. We assessed substance use with the Tobacco and Alcohol Questionnaire and performed a series of regression analyses using case-control status, age of onset of psychosis, and diagnosis as outcomes and tobacco use and frequency of tobacco use as predictors. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, alcohol, and cannabis use.
Results
After controlling for cannabis use, FEP patients were 2.6 times more likely to use tobacco [p ⩽ 0.001; adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) [2.1–3.2]] and 1.7 times more likely to smoke 20 or more cigarettes a day (p = 0.003; AOR 1.7; 95% CI [1.2–2.4]) than controls. Tobacco use was associated with an earlier age at psychosis onset (β = −2.3; p ⩽ 0.001; 95% CI [−3.7 to −0.9]) and was 1.3 times more frequent in FEP patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia than in other diagnoses of psychosis (AOR 1.3; 95% CI [1.0–1.8]); however, these results were no longer significant after controlling for cannabis use.
Conclusions
Tobacco and heavy-tobacco use are associated with increased odds of FEP. These findings further support the relevance of tobacco prevention in young populations.
Darwin's frogs Rhinoderma darwinii and Rhinoderma rufum are the only known species of amphibians in which males brood their offspring in their vocal sacs. We propose these frogs as flagship species for the conservation of the Austral temperate forests of Chile and Argentina. This recommendation forms part of the vision of the Binational Conservation Strategy for Darwin's Frogs, which was launched in 2018. The strategy is a conservation initiative led by the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, which in 2017 convened 30 governmental, non-profit and private organizations from Chile, Argentina and elsewhere. Darwin's frogs are iconic examples of the global amphibian conservation crisis: R. rufum is categorized as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) on the IUCN Red List, and R. darwinii as Endangered. Here we articulate the conservation planning process that led to the development of the conservation strategy for these species and present its main findings and recommendations. Using an evidence-based approach, the Binational Conservation Strategy for Darwin's Frogs contains a comprehensive status review of Rhinoderma spp., including critical threat analyses, and proposes 39 prioritized conservation actions. Its goal is that by 2028, key information gaps on Rhinoderma spp. will be filled, the main threats to these species will be reduced, and financial, legal and societal support will have been achieved. The strategy is a multi-disciplinary, transnational endeavour aimed at ensuring the long-term viability of these unique frogs and their particular habitat.
Chronically stressed adult male Balb C mice were submitted to the tail suspension test. Chronic immobilization stress (6 h/d for 14 consecutive days) induced a significant reduction in immobility time when compared to non-stressed controls. Pretreatment with LY 53857, a serotonin 5HT2 antagonist, and IPS 339, a selective beta-2 adrenoceptor blocker, reversed immobility time to the levels of non-stressed controls. Chronic administration of corticosterone (100 mg/kg for 7 d) did not modify immobility time as compared to saline treated controls. It is suggested that both serotonergic and adrenergic pathways in the brain may participate in the stress-induced changes occurring in the tail suspension test response and that corticosterone does not appear to play a role in this process.
Previous studies have reported progressive brain changes and cognitive deficits in early-onset psychosis (EOP). Little is known on the relationship between longitudinal changes in brain structure and neurocognition.
Methods:
Naturalistic 5-year prospective study comparing frontal gray matter (GM) volume and executive functions in adolescents with a first episode of EOP and a sample of healthy controls at baseline, 2-year and 5-year follow-up.
Results:
Thirty-six patients (age at baseline 15.8 ±.7, 66.6% male) and 34 controls (15.4±1.4, 55.9% male) comprised the study sample. Both patients and controls presented with frontal GM loss during the first five years of follow-up. During the first two years, patients presented with significantly greater GM loss than controls in the left (F=9.642, p=0.003) and right frontal lobe (F=7.585, p=0.008), with no significant differences between year 2 and 5. Patients with EOP performed significantly worse in executive tasks than controls in all visits. During the first two years of follow-up, controls, but not patients, presented with a significant improvement in executive functioning (F=7.523, p=0.009), with similar evolution of cognitive functioning between years 2 and 5 in both groups (F=0.908, p=0.346). Changes in frontal GM volume and executive functioning were not significantly correlated within the entire follow-up period.
Conclusion:
Over the first two years of illness, patients with EOP show greater frontal GM loss and less improvement in executive functions than expected. This could be a critical period for the development of deficits in EOP, in which more intensive interventions would be warranted.
Modern lifestyle increases the prevalence of obesity and its co-morbidities in the young population. High-salt (HS) diets are associated with hypertension and cardiac remodelling. The present study evaluated the potential effects of cardiometabolic programming induced by HS intake during puberty in lean and obese rats. Additionally, we investigated whether HS could exacerbate the impairment of cardiovascular parameters in adult life due to postnatal early overnutrition (PO). At postnatal day 3 (PN3), twenty-four litters of Wistar rats were divided into two groups: normal litter (NL, nine pups/dam) and small litter (SL, three pups/dam) throughout the lactation period; weaning was at PN21. At PN30, the pups were subdivided into two more groups: NL plus HS (NLHS) and SL plus HS (SLHS). HS intake was from PN30 until PN60. Cardiovascular parameters were evaluated at PN120. SL rats became overweight at adulthood due to persistent hyperphagia; however, HS exposure during puberty reduced the weight gain and food intake of NLHS and SLHS. Both HS and obesity raised the blood pressure, impaired baro- and chemoreflex sensitivity and induced cardiac remodelling but no worsening was observed in the association of these factors, except a little reduction in the angiotensin type-2 receptor in the hearts from SLHS animals. Our results suggest that the response of newborn offspring to PO and juveniles to a HS diet leads to significant changes in cardiovascular parameters in adult rats. This damage may be accompanied by impairment of both angiotensin signalling and antioxidant defence in the heart.
Social cognition has been associated with functional outcome in patients with first episode psychosis (FEP). Social cognition has also been associated with neurocognition and cognitive reserve. Although cognitive reserve, neurocognitive functioning, social cognition, and functional outcome are related, the direction of their associations is not clear. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to analyze the influence of social cognition as a mediator between cognitive reserve and cognitive domains on functioning in FEP both at baseline and at 2 years.
Methods
The sample of the study was composed of 282 FEP patients followed up for 2 years. To analyze whether social cognition mediates the influence of cognitive reserve and cognitive domains on functioning, a path analysis was performed. The statistical significance of any mediation effects was evaluated by bootstrap analysis.
Results
At baseline, as neither cognitive reserve nor the cognitive domains studied were related to functioning, the conditions for mediation were not satisfied. Nevertheless, at 2 years of follow-up, social cognition acted as a mediator between cognitive reserve and functioning. Likewise, social cognition was a mediator between verbal memory and functional outcome. The results of the bootstrap analysis confirmed these significant mediations (95% bootstrapped CI (−10.215 to −0.337) and (−4.731 to −0.605) respectively).
Conclusions
Cognitive reserve and neurocognition are related to functioning, and social cognition mediates in this relationship.
A study was conducted over eight consecutive days in February 2010 in which daily variations in the vertical distributions of heterotrophic bacteria, mesozooplankton and ichthyoplankton at 1–1200 m in the South-western Atlantic Ocean were investigated. Diurnal and nocturnal samples were collected at an oceanographic station at four regional depths: Tropical Water (TW) (1 m), South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) (250 m), Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) (800 m) and Upper Circumpolar Deep Water (UCDW) (1200 m). Bacterial, mesozooplankton and larval fish densities significantly differed between sample depths but not between sampling tow times. In total, 154 zooplankton species and 18 larval fish species were identified. The highest number of taxa was obtained from the night-time TW trawls. This depth zone had the highest densities of mesozooplankton, larval fish and bacterioplankton (auto and heterotrophic), associated with the highest temperature and salinity and the lowest inorganic nutrient concentrations. Two sample groups were identified based on their mesozooplankton and larval fish compositions: night-time TW and other water masses (daytime TW, SACW, AAIW and UCDW). Thirty-two indicator species were detected in night-time TW. The copepod Nullosetigera impar was, to the best of our knowledge, identified for the first time on the Brazilian coast. Our results showed significant variability in the abundance and vertical distribution of mesozooplankton, bacterioplankton and larval fish along the water column in an oceanic area. We have provided new data and insights on the composition and vertical distribution of mesozooplankton, larval fish and bacterioplankton in deep waters in the South-western Atlantic Ocean.
The house mouse (Mus musculus) and the black rat (Rattus rattus) are reservoir hosts for zoonotic pathogens, several of which cause neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Studies of the prevalence of these NTD-causing zoonotic pathogens, in house mice and black rats from tropical residential areas are scarce. Three hundred and two house mice and 161 black rats were trapped in 2013 from two urban neighbourhoods and a rural village in Yucatan, Mexico, and subsequently tested for Trypanosoma cruzi, Hymenolepis diminuta and Leptospira interrogans. Using the polymerase chain reaction we detected T. cruzi DNA in the hearts of 4·9% (8/165) and 6·2% (7/113) of house mice and black rats, respectively. We applied the sedimentation technique to detect eggs of H. diminuta in 0·5% (1/182) and 14·2% (15/106) of house mice and black rats, respectively. Through the immunofluorescent imprint method, L. interrogans was identified in 0·9% (1/106) of rat kidney impressions. Our results suggest that the black rat could be an important reservoir for T. cruzi and H. diminuta in the studied sites. Further studies examining seasonal and geographical patterns could increase our knowledge on the epidemiology of these pathogens in Mexico and the risk to public health posed by rodents.
Epigenetic studies suggest that diseases that develop in adulthood are related to certain conditions to which the individual is exposed during the initial stages of life. Experimental evidence has demonstrated that offspring born to mothers maintained on high-Na diets during pregnancy have higher mean arterial pressure (MAP) in adulthood. Although these studies have demonstrated the importance of prenatal phases to hypertension development, no evidence regarding the role of high Na intake during postnatal phases in the development of this pathology has been reported. Therefore, in the present study, the effects of Na overload during childhood on induced water and Na intakes and on cardiovascular parameters in adulthood were evaluated. Experiments were carried out in two groups of 21-d-old rats: experimental group, maintained on hypertonic saline (0·3 m-NaCl) solution and food for 60 d, and control group, maintained on tap water and food. Later, both groups were given water and food for 15 d (recovery period). After the recovery period, chronic cannulation of the right femoral artery was performed in unanaesthetised rats to record baseline MAP and heart rate (HR). The experimental group was found to have increased basal MAP (98·6 (sem 2·6) v. 118·3 (sem 2·7) mmHg, P< 0·05) and HR (365·4 (sem 12·2) v. 398·2 (sem 7·5) beats per min, P< 0·05). There was a decrease in the baroreflex index in the experimental group when compared with that in the control group. A water and Na intake test was performed using furosemide. Na depletion was found to induce an increase in Na intake in both the control and experimental groups (12·1 (sem 0·6) ml and 7·8 (sem 1·1), respectively, P< 0·05); however, this increase was of lower magnitude in the experimental group. These results demonstrate that postnatal Na overload alters behavioural and cardiovascular regulation in adulthood.
The B fields in OB stars (BOB) survey is an ESO large programme collecting spectropolarimetric observations for a large number of early-type stars in order to study the occurrence rate, properties, and ultimately the origin of magnetic fields in massive stars. As of July 2014, a total of 98 objects were observed over 20 nights with FORS2 and HARPSpol. Our preliminary results indicate that the fraction of magnetic OB stars with an organised, detectable field is low. This conclusion, now independently reached by two different surveys, has profound implications for any theoretical model attempting to explain the field formation in these objects. We discuss in this contribution some important issues addressed by our observations (e.g., the lower bound of the field strength) and the discovery of some remarkable objects.
This study investigated the effects of maternal separation on the feeding behavior of rats. A maternal separation model was used on postnatal day 1 (PND1), forming the following groups: in the maternal separation (MS) group, pups were separated from their mothers each day from PND1 to PND14, whereas in the control (C) group pups were kept with their mothers. Subgroups were formed to study the effects of light and darkness: control with dark and light exposure, female and male (CF and CM), and maternal separation with dark and light exposure, female and male (SDF, SDM, SLF and SLM). Female rats had higher caloric intake relative to body weight compared with male controls in the dark period only (CF=23.3±0.5 v. CM=18.2±0.7, P<0.001). Macronutrient feeding preferences were observed, with male rats exhibiting higher caloric intake from a protein diet as compared with female rats (CF=4.1±0.7, n=8 v. CM=7.0±0.5, n=8, P<0.05) and satiety development was not interrupted. Female rats had a higher adrenal weight as compared with male rats independently of experimental groups and exhibited a higher concentration of serum triglycerides (n=8, P<0.001). The study indicates possible phenotypic adjustments in the structure of feeding behavior promoted by maternal separation, especially in the dark cycle. The dissociation between the mother’s presence and milk intake probably induces adjustments in feeding behavior during adulthood.
Here we analyze the outcomes of unlimited access to a low-energy (LE) diet in dams and their offspring. At 3 weeks’ gestation, pregnant Wistar rats were divided into two groups: (1) the control group received a normoenergetic diet; and (2) the experimental group received the LE diet. In dams, lactation outcomes, food intake, body weight, plasma IGF-1, prealbumin, transferrin and retinol-binding protein levels were evaluated; in offspring, biometric and biochemical parameters and food intake were evaluated. No differences were observed during pregnancy. However, after lactation, dams that received the LE diet demonstrated significant reductions in body weight (P<0.05), plasma IGF-1 (P=0.01), prealbumin and visceral fat (P<0.001). Pups born to dams that received the LE diet demonstrated reduced body length and weight at weaning (P<0.001) and were lighter than the control animals at the end of the experimental period. Pups also demonstrated reduced plasma, low-density lipoprotein (P=0.04), triglycerides (P=0.002) and glucose levels (P<0.05), and differences were noted in visceral fat. These results indicate that feeding dams with LE diet during the reproductive period induces acute malnutrition and impairs the growth and development of offspring, as well as certain metabolic parameters.
The Burst Observer and Optical Transient Exploring System (BOOTES), is a global roboticobservatory network, which started in 1998 with Spanish leadership devoted to studyoptical emissions from gamma ray bursts (GRBs) that occur in the Universe. We present shothistory and current status of BOOTES network. The Network philosophy, science and somedetails of 117 GRBs followed-up are discussed.
Chagas' disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, represents a serious health problem in Latin America, and the available chemotherapy, which is based on 2 nitro-derivatives, is not satisfactory. In folk medicine, natural products including naphthoquinones have been employed for the treatment of different parasitic diseases. In the pursuit of alternative drugs for Chagas' disease, we investigated the mechanism of action of the triazolic naphthoquinone (TN; 2,2-dimethyl-3-(4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-2,3-dihydronaphtho[1,2-b]furan-4,5-dione), which is the most active compound against T. cruzi trypomastigotes among a series of naphthofuranquinones. TN was active against the 3 parasite forms producing a dose-dependent inhibitory effect. In epimastigotes, TN induced reservosome disruption, flagellar blebbing, Golgi disorganization, the presence of cytosolic concentric membrane structures and abnormal multiflagellar parasites. The treatment also led to the appearance of well-developed endoplasmic reticulum profiles surrounding organelles that associated with an increase in monodansylcadaverine labelling, suggesting autophagy as part of the TN mechanism of action. Interestingly, no ultrastructural damage was detected in the mitochondria of naphthoquinone-treated epimastigotes. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated an impairment of mitosis, an increase in ROS production and the maintenance of mitochondrial membrane potential. TN could be a good starting point in the investigation of a chemotherapeutic approach for the treatment of Chagas' disease.